Hello HTML 5, Goodbye Gears

One of the biggest goals of HTML 5 is to reduce the need for plug-in-based, rich Internet applications, such as Adobe Flash, Microsoft Silverlight, and Sun JavaFX. This latest programming language will also introduce programmers to never before seen or used elements and attributes that will take average websites to the next level, making them appear more modern and enabling them to work more efficiently.

Most of these specific programming changes won't be noticed by the general public, but they will definitely affect the way programmers write code. For example, there are many new semantic replacements for generic block and inline elements, while other new features focus more on providing better functionality through a more standardized interface. Some elements from HTML4 have been dropped, including presentational elements. This is because the same effects can be achieved using CSS.

Data "In the Cloud"

Windows and other modern operating systems have many applications, which is what sets Google's Chrome OS apart; it only has one application, which is its web browser. Essentially there are none of the things to which we've become accustomed--no word processor or email programs. All of the apps featured on the new OS are web-based, and both run and save all of your data "in the cloud."

Running and saving data in the cloud is also known as cloud computing, which is a fairly new trend in terms of software development. Usually, more standard apps can take months to develop, and major upgrades are known to take at least a year to be released. On the other hand when web apps live in the cloud, developers can create software updates almost instantly.

Working with apps in the cloud isn't just beneficial and time saving to developers; it's also incredibly beneficial to those using the applications. As a user, you can access the latest bug fixes and start working with new features immediately, without the hassle of having to download and install large updates. Also, because this data is in the cloud as well, you can access it anywhere in the world as long as you have access to the Internet.

This concept may sound very new, but chances are the average user has already encountered a web app living in the cloud and they didn't even know it. This is especially true for Google and social networking fans; both Gmail and Facebook are web apps that are downloaded from the web and run on a user's browser, meaning their data is saved on the Internet or in the cloud.

It becomes more and more apparent that the Internet is similar to a living thing; it grows and adapts every day. As this happens, companies like Google and their new Chrome OS use both new and old concepts alike and take them to the next level. Essentially, Google Chrome leverages the new-found power of HTML 5 and gives applications direct access to a local database, and file caching, among other things.

This may sound like confusing techie talk to some Internet users, but the effects are far-reaching. All of this means that users' favorite websites and applications will not only work faster, but become more compatible with their specific computer. Simply put, because of HTML 5 and Google's Chrome OS, it's a very exciting time for the Internet and the future of the web is looking very bright.